Warning apparatus for motor vehicle operators



Dec. l2, 1950 w. H.scoTT WARNING APPARATUS RoR MoToR VEHICLE OPERATORS Filed Feb. 14, 195o a. WM@

.IIIIIIIIIIII mi. l. J/l m m ATTORNEYS' Patented Dec. 12, 1950 VVARNNG APPARATUS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATRS William H. Scott, Gettysburg, Pa. Application February 14, 1950, Serial No. 144,063

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for warning a motor vehicle operator against leaving an ignition key in the ignition lock of an unattended motor vehicle.

The likelihood of theft of a motor vehicle is substantially increased when the vehicle is left unattended with the ignition key in the ignition lock. Some cities have passed ordinances prohibiting the leaving of the key in the ignition lock of an unattended vehicle and fines are imposed for violation of such ordinances. Cities having such ordinances have experienced substantial reductions in the number oi' reported thefts of automobiles, particularly thefts by juveniles. Even where not prohibited by law,` the practice of leaving the key in an unattended vehicle is poor practice and is not ordinarily indulged in by cautious persons. However, many operators become preoccupied and unintentionally leave the key in the ignition lock of the vehicle.

The primary object of this invention is to provide warning apparatus which will eliminate or substantially reduce the likelihood of an operator unintentionally leaving the ignition key in a motor vehicle. A further object of 1Lhe invention is to provide a small and compact apparatus for use with an ignition key which will warn an operator that the key should be removed when the motor of the vehicle is stopped. Still a further object of the invention is to provide warning apparatus of the type described which utilizes electric current to actuate a warning indicator at the time most appropriate to assure removal of the key from the ignition lock.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be explained in greater detail in the following description of an exemplary form of the invention. This description has reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of apparatus embodying my invention and showing in full lines an ignition key in retracted or inoperative position and illustrating in dotted lines the key in projected or operative position for insertion in an ignition lock;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the lines 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken in the direction of the arrows along the lines 4 4 of Fig. .2; and

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of the apparatus.

A case 6, which may be of plastic or other insulating material, forms the container for a small dry cell battery 'I. One end of the case may be permanently closed by an end wall 8. An annular ring 9 of metal or other electrically conductive material is provided with screw threads Ill on its outer periphery and this member is removably threaded into. the open end of the case 5, such open end being provided with screw threads il. The ring 9 is also provided with internal threads I2 which receive the base of a warning indicator such as a small incandescent lamp designated generally by the reference numeral I3.

A metallic plate I4 is embedded in or otherwise secured to the wall 8 at the closed end of the case A compression spring I5 is interposed between the plate I4 and the base of the battery The end wall 8 may be provided with a pair of upstanding fingers I6 which form rigid supports for a switch such as a mercury switch designated generally by the numeral I'I and which is responsive to the angular position of the case 6. Conductor I8 connects the plate I4 with one pole I9 of the switch I'I. The other -pole 2li of the switch Ii is connected by means of a con# ductor 2| to a contact element 22 which is embedded or otherwise secured in the side wall of the case 6 and which projects slightly beyond the outer surface of the case.

A shaft is embedded or otherwise secured in the side wall of the case a small distance from the contact element 22. An electrically conductive strip 24 has one end electrically connected to the shaft 23 while the opposite end is deformed to t the screw threads II at the open endof the case and to make electrical contact with the annular ring 9.

The ignition key 25 of a motor vehicle may be positioned on the outer end of the shaft 23 and retained thereon by means of a nut 26 in the manner clearly illustrated in the drawing. The key 25 is pivotally movable about the shaft 23. When that key is in the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. l, the warning indicator circuit is open and no current can flow from the battery 'I to the lamp I3. The key 25 can be moved to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which case the key contacts the contact element 22 and the warning indicator circuit will then be closed if the case 6 and the mercury switch I'I are in such position that the mercury spans the poles I9 and 20. It will be seen that current will iioW from the positive terminal of the battery through the lamp I3, the

ment 22 and. the key 25, and this second switch` is responsive to the pivotal position of the key Y relative to the case 6.

The key 25 should be positioned as illustrated in full lines in Fig. l When the key 'is'not in use. and no current can flow from the battery i to the lamp i3 irrespective of the angular position oi the case and the switch i1. The key 25 can be otny'mvdtb "thqposiuon iiiustratedin-dotie'aiins 'in Fig; 1 'when it is desiree @insert-the key 'inthe ignition lock. The lamp JIj3'vvil'lbefi-llumiiiated during such insertion because both switches Wilibe Yclosed'but as soon'asthe'svvitch and"ca'se' "`are 'turnedtou'nlock -tlie ignition Ithe meicifrywin"the'svvith TT will ow'to 'one 'end of iefvipe/f tHe-'switch and win cease to span the poles" i' and 2U" In this "manner Athe 1a' Q lBwilinot'bejiuiimr the Aignitionlock"vith'tl'e 'ignition iinloclgedl l As soon as l.the operator turnsfthe case' and 'key 25 hto lock theigi'itionfthe sivitcii'fli' Willclo'se the lWarning indicator circuit and the lamp' lBiWill' be `illfu'rriiialt'edi The 'pr'at'ors'attentioniwilljbe cautd'the' iii'niiafd lamp and he -wii1-jbe reminded that :the lkey 'shul'd be Withdrawn Afrom the lock." n

Sonie "garages r'arid' 'park'inglots" or similar 'estabisiiinsiquiie that 'trie 'key be Amit inthe ignition "166k so that 'attendants' may starsene {fiiicie mi't'r' 'To provide foifuiis situation-1t is vpossible 'to plvotally' 'move tli'ev k'eyl '2 5 to' 'a posi#` non diaintiaiiy'fbiip'osi that iinustiatcrin eteiiejsiii Fig. 1Km miettes-inch theke'y win not he in g'geietiwithhe" ccntactfeiement z'z'nki trie'ywarigmuieatbi dimitir/urteilen; peifjin 'spice'l of the" fact that theiyis infine ignition lock Witlf the ignition 'in "locked 'con-y ditiqn. A

Y I have illustrated and describedthe' ap a'iatus as Y- arranged 'for 'use'nvlithvevhicls' in which' the key ho lefof4 the` ignition lock"isver'ti`cal While the ignition islloc'ked and'in yvil/linen the keyhole is at an angle to l the vertical While 'the' ignition is unlocked. yThis is presentlyv the customararrangement. It will be apparent vth'stmthe ielaf tive positionoi the switch I1 and :fthe 'cas'e'r pivotal axis of theA key can be'variedto'ob'tain the advantages of the invention in those vehicles having; ignition locks which have 'key' holesh'dis posed at other'than the conventional angles'. The apparatusis smalland cOrnpaft It be manufactured and distributed'at a 'cost' comparable to the cost o fusmallpocket flash lights The lamp I 3 is readily removable for replacement. 'Ijhe battery 'lwmaybeK-removed and replaced byv removingvthe ring-2 irorn'the open end of'thecase. I 1

I have illustrated the 'switch H as being Vof the mercury'type but it Willbe `apparent that any other switch which is-responsive to changes in-angular position may beifsubstituted I have The Warning indicatorcircuit 'isthen open illustrated the warning indicator as a lamp but it will be obvious that any other indicator which would attract the attention of the operator could be used. The illustrated form of the invention is exemplary only and I do not limit myself to the details of the apparatus except to the extent defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. Apparatus 'for Warning/fa motor 'vehicle operator against leaving a key inthe ignition lock of the vehicle comprising a case, a key pivotallymounted on said case, a warning indicator circuit; a battery in said circuit, a Warning indicator in `said circuit, a rst switch in said circuit responsive to the angular position of said case, and a second switch in said circuit in series with said first switch and responsive to the pivotal position of said key relative to said case, said switches cooperating to close said circuit While said key is in an ignition lock with the ignition locked;Vv

2. "Appara'tusefor Warning-'a inotbveliicle opl erator against leav'inga key inthe ignitinilock of the vehicle comprising a ca-se', ivaiiiiing' inV dicator'circuit, a catteryirr said'circuit-'a Warningindicator in *sa-iidv circuit; 'a fir-stlswi-t' 'said circuit-responsive 1toftheangularpositie n Rif saidcase, `and a sec/ond switch in ls'aid-'ci-rcuiltf in series vvith said rstfswitclfifandresponsive vto the pivot'arposition ofi-a keyfpivotallymounted on'said case.

2.l Apparatus -ior' warnin'gf-a inetoril-'veliicle'lop@4 eratoragainst :leaving'fa key inftne ignition 'lockof a vehicle-comprising a case-'fa key lpivotal'ly mounted 'on' said casey'a A5Wa-rningl `indicator--icir cuit; abattery in' 'sai'd circuitfa V`Warning'indicator in said circuit, a iirst switchffinsaidcircuit which is closed While saidcaseisinbneangular-posi# tion,l 'and a second-"stv'itchfin said''circuitinvseriesA with said lfirst "switch which 'secondfsvvitchis closed While said key is in one pivotal position' relative to'said` case.'

4. Apparatus forwarningalmotorlvehicle op-y erator against leaving a'key in-'the igniticnlock of lthe vehicle 'comprising -a war-ning indicator circuit, 'ja b attery'in'said circuit, a v*warningiindi'c'ator in"'saidjc1rcuit; and* a jpair t'switche'sf in seriest'infs'aid circuit, 'theui's't 'ofi-said switches b'eing closed in" 'one angular' position of the-ap-V parais 'and theseeond of said switches?havingA means 'for 'pivotally supporting *a -key and lbeiiig close'fby 'pO'Sitioning"I :of a -key 'supported iby fsaid V"sans "in "one i "pivotal "i p'n'si'tionv relative 'to :the apparatus.' I

5. Apparatus as diinie'diiniclaimili intvhi'cli said rst switch is a j'mercury`switch.

6. 'Apparatus `asfdei-ined 'in claim i4 `in which said Warning indicator isanfinciandescent iam-p.

REFERENCES CITED 'The Y following" references "are" of record in ,the iile of .this patenti UNITEDsTAfTEs-PATENTS Number Name' Date.V 1,215,162 scott sept; 17",*1940 1393373 Hendrix 1 Jan. 22,1194@ FoREIGN PATENTS Number Country Y Date?" 636,564 Germanyi- V v toet. 12,1936 

